Gizmo Nismo: Nissan's hot concept

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan has revealed a bold new future for its Nismo performance arm as one of the stars of the 2011 Tokyo auto show.

Nissan says its Juke Nismo is its idea of how a premium sports version of the hugely successful compact crossover could look.

With its distinctive styling, Nissan says, the Juke has redefined the highly competitive B-segment, but the Juke Nismo Concept is even more dramatic. It’s lower, wider and has a tougher stance. Even standing still, it’s clearly a performance car.

'SOMETHING DIFFERENT'

"Aimed at a car-loving audience looking for a car that reflects an edgy personality," Nissan purrs, "the Juke Nismo Concept magnifies the standard car’s unique mix of compact-car agility, coupé-like responses and SUV strength. The global sales success of the Juke has proved beyond doubt that customers are looking for something different,."

Finished in the Nismo signature colours of pearl white with red highlights, the Juke Nismo Concept wears a body kit created by Nismo’s aerodynamic specialists whose skill, the automaker says, has been honed on race cars. As on a race car, the Juke Nismo Concept body kit was designed not only to look good but also to be dynamically highly efficient.

New parts include revised lower bumpers front and rear, wider fenders and sill side skirts.

GIZMOS FOR NISMOS: Even the door mirrors get the treatment to make the Juke Nismo Concept more efficient - and the 19" alloy rims add muscle.

The grille pattern has been changed and the tail hatch spoiler has been modified with side elements to control airflow more efficiently. Even the shape of the door mirrors has been altered to enhance the car’s aerodynamic performance. This reduction in lift means the contact patch of the tyres has been increased to improve grip, which is further enhanced by the arrival of stylish new 19" alloy rims.

"Naturally," says Nissan, "the Nismo treatment extends to the chassis which has been lowered and stiffened using proprietary parts of the sort that will be available from the expanded Nismo’s parts catalogue. The 1.6 direct-injection turbo engine has been uprated to deliver more power and performance."

There are also Nismo touches in the cabin where the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shift knob and door trims have been redesigned to provide greater driving involvement. Special leather-trimmed bucket seats have been inserted and the tachometer the dial and needle are illuminated in red.

'EVEN MORE FUN'

Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani said: “As the Concept shows, Nismo brings new levels of individuality to mainstream Nissan cars such as the Juke. The future for Nismo is to develop premium sports designs for an ever-widening range of customers.

“Our forthcoming range of cars will be just as accessible and innovative as every Nissan product but with Nismo energy - they will be even more fun to own and drive.".